On September 19, when AMC Theatres Distribution and Taylor Swift’s team unveiled their highly anticipated project, Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party of a Showgirl, it was met with excitement. The initial AMC press release indicated that the cinematic experience would eventually be accessible in “100 additional countries or more outside of the United States.” However, recent reports from The Hollywood Reporter reveal that those plans have significantly changed.
The film was scheduled to have a limited showing for just three days, from October 3 to 5, across North America and at least 18 international markets including Canada, Mexico, the U.K., Ireland, France, Germany, Switzerland, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. According to the details shared on September 19, additional international territories were expected to screen Showgirl later in October. Fans were eagerly awaiting further information regarding international dates and advance ticket sales, which were promised around October 3. Unfortunately, that date passed without any updates, apart from AMC’s note on October 5 stating, “this concludes” Showgirl’s run.
Industry insiders indicate that the change primarily affects Latin America and parts of Asia. While Showgirl did perform well in Mexico and Uruguay, the decision to halt the international rollout has left many questions unanswered. AMC declined to comment on the reasons behind this shift in plans. Sources suggest that certain territories may have required additional time to assess the film under their specific ratings and censorship regulations, while Team Swift might have chosen to move forward with their schedule. There is also the matter of language accessibility, as the version screened from October 3 to 5 was reportedly in English only.
Despite the hiccups in international distribution, Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party of a Showgirl saw remarkable success at the domestic box office. With a final weekend tally of $34.1 million, the film outperformed major competitors, including blockbusters starring Dwayne Johnson and Leonardo DiCaprio. This astonishing figure underscores the film's unique nature as a “cinematic experience” rather than a traditional concert film or documentary. The event was strategically timed to coincide with the release of her new album, The Life of a Showgirl, which also launched on October 3 and is breaking sales records.
The 89-minute presentation seamlessly combined music videos, behind-the-scenes footage, and lyric videos from her new album, culminating in the world premiere of her music video for the single “The Fate of Ophelia,” which Swift directed herself. Audience demographics revealed that around 90 percent of attendees were female, with 74 percent of ticket buyers aged under 34. The largest demographic, comprising 31 percent, was aged between 18 and 24, according to PostTrak. This strong turnout, driven by passionate fans known as “Swifties,” has already made the film the second-highest grossing concert film or special music event in history, just behind Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, which grossed over $180 million globally.
While other artists like Coldplay have attempted similar album release parties in theaters, their earnings often pale in comparison, typically reaching only $1 million or even $500,000 domestically. In contrast, Showgirl grossed $16 million across 54 territories overseas, leading to an impressive worldwide total of $50.1 million. However, some competitors have raised doubts about the accuracy of these market reports, as Comscore has only verified numbers for 14 of the claimed 22 territories.
This collaboration marks the second successful endeavor between Taylor Swift and AMC Theatres Distribution, following the success of the Eras Tour in 2023. For AMC CEO Adam Aron, partnering with Swift has proven to be a lucrative move, especially considering that no film has ever reached the number one spot at the domestic box office with just 14 days between its announcement and debut. Given the extraordinary success of Showgirl, it may have been a wise decision for Swift’s team to enjoy the triumph rather than pursue further international releases.
